Heat insulating container and material



March 12, 1935. w. E. CARPENTER 1,993,730

HEAT- INSULATING CONTAINER AND MATERIAL Filed Aug. 18, 1931 2Sheets-Sheet 1 J02, J0 mad r w MS i 1 m 4m w mz m f (I k WSW March 12,1935. w E, CARPENTER 1,993,730

HEAT INSULATING CONTAINER AND MATERIAL v Filed Aug. 18, 1931 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Walk/'1 Car aemier BY a I I PAL-k2 14mm.)

ATTORNEYS and upon the .eflicient manner in which a solid Patented Mar.12, 1935 HEAT INSULATING CONTAINER AND MATERIAL Walter E. Carpenter,Belm'ar, N. J., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to McCabeMaier Corporation, Newark, N. l., a. corporation of New JerseyApplication August 18, 1931, Serial Nets-1,749 9 Claims. (01. 220-9) Mypresent invention, considered from one aspect, is concerned with-theprovision of a portable or stationary insulating container capable ofretarding heat exchange between the outside air and the contents of thecontainer.

The invention considered from another standpoint is concerned generallywith the provision of a composite heat insulating material which may beused wherever heat is to be excluded from or retained within a chamberand in fact may be utilized in building constructions if desired.

The invention insofar as it relates to the container, is capable ofembodiment. in many types of stationary or portable units, but finds oneof its preferred embodiments in a containerof the character in which icecream or other frozen comestibles are adapted to be temporarily storedand where the problem involved is complicated by the need for frequentlyopening the container and admitting air at atmospheric temperaturesthereto as the individual packages of ice cream or frozen confectionsare removed and vended.

In providing a container for this particular purpose, I contemplate theuse of certain special means for carrying a refrigerant in operativerelationship to the material to be chilled. I further contemplate in theuse of permanent installations, the provision of means whereby acirculation of a refrigerating medium maybe continuously maintained inintimate heat exchange relationship withthe inner wall ofthe container.

7 One object of the invention is to provide a container of the generalcharacter described above which will combinesimplicity of constructionand economyof manufacture, with a high' insulating efllciency. Inattaining this object, I rely both upon the construction ofthe containerrefrigerant is disposed or a liquid refrigerating medium circulated withrespect to the material to be kept cool. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a small portablecontainerlfogedible merchandise of the characterwhich requires asubstantially constant temperatui'a which container is sumciently lightin weight for convenient transportation and which affords ready accessto the contents of the container so that a vendor may quickly remove thegoods therefrom. I

Another object is to provide a container of this character which willcombine simplicity and ruggedness of construction with attractiveness inappearance and which will be 'of a highly sanitary nature, capable ofconvenient cleaning.

Another object of the invention is to provide .a heat insulating or heatexcluding material in the form of a laminated sheet or board-likestructure which 'will be extremely light in weight, inexpensive tomanufacture and capable of being conveniently cut to size for use insmall, odd, special shaped containers or manufactured in large sheetsfor use as wall boards or the like.

In accordance with a-preferred embodiment of the invention, the heatinsulating ability of the container is attained in large measure by theuse of a plurality of wall structures surrounding a central storagechamber, each of these wall structures having a highly polished surfacefacing outwardly and tending to reflect heat waves. In a typicalembodiment of the invention for use as a portable container in whichhawkers may carry their merchandise, I may employ a 20 pair ofconcentric shells, connected at their tops to define a hollowwalled,,open-topped vessel, which is closed by a removable heatinsulating cover. The cover preferably has a hinged section to provideaccess to the confections in the 25v container and may support a carrierfor solidified carbon dioxide or other temperature regulating medium.The relation between the cover and the carrier is such that with thecover in plac, the heat regulating medium is automatically securedagainst slipping out of position and coming into direct contact with thefrozen comestibles. The space between the two inner and outer shellsboth of which'have shiny surfaces maybe filled by any suitable number ofsheets of my special heat insulating board.

, This board'may be simply constructed, of an ordinary corrugated strawboard having its faces covered with foil or the like, which in turn iscovered with cellophane or equivalent material, 40 to preventtarnishing; of the foil. The insulating value of the board is thusenhanced by the shiny .coating on the faces thereof.

Another embodiment of the invention which is particularly useful inconnection with stationary containers for use on a counter, may employ aplurality of concentrically spaced can members af- "fording. a hollowseries of concentric chambers about the inner can, which'constitutes thechamber for the goods, the temperature of which is to be regulated. Aspecial feature is the utilization of spacer rings of any suitablematerial, preferably insulating material, between the inwardly turnedmouths of the cans. A flanged collar passing through all of the canmouths has a threaded inner end engageable by a nut to clamp all of thecan mouths firmly between the rings and hermetically seal them aswell-as rigidly spacing the cans the desired distance apart. In thiscase, the space between the two innermost cans or shells may have brineor other liquid or gaseous temperature regulating medium continuouslycirculated through it and with either form of container described, theinter-spaces between the inner and outer shells may be filled with aninert gas, such as for instance as CO: to enhance the heat insulatingeffect. The invention may be more fully understood from the followingdescription in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1is a vertical sectional view through one form of container embodying theinvention, showing the cover of the container lifted out of thecontainer mouth;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged and. exaggerated view in section through one ofthe shells to indicate the manner in which the surfaces of the shell arepolished;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating an alternative formof container;

Fig. 4 is a reduced perspective view of the cover shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a disassembled view of the laminated heat insulating sheet orboard structure used in the container of Fig. 3.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, I have shown a devicewhich is of special utility as a counter display and container for foodstuffs, the temperature of which is to be maintained substantiallyuniform. This container is built up of a plurality of concentricallyarranged can or shell members 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d. The shells maybe of any suitable cross sectional shape but are preferably squareinorder to afford maximum storage capacity. From the inner shell 10 to'theouter shell 10b, the shells are of progressively increasing area incross section and of correspondingly progressively increasing length.

Each shell is provided with a closed bottom 11 and at its upper endwitha central opening 12. The openings in the various shells are of uniformsize and preferably circular. A plurality of spacer rings 13 preferablyof insulating material are interposed between the shells at their mouthportions or openings 12, the interior .cross sectional shape of therings conforming to the cross sectional shape of the openings. Theserings serve to space the shells apart vertically to the desired extentand with the use of special clamping mechanism which I shall nowdescribe, to maintain the shells against lateral slippage which mightvary their relative horizontal spacing.

The clamping means includes a collar 14 having a flanged outer end 15 tooverlie the outermost shell 10d. The collar fits snugly within thespacer rings 13 and within the openings 12 0! the shells and its innerend is threaded as at 16 for the reception of an internally threaded nut1'1.

When screwed home, nut 17 abuts the inner face of the top of theinnermost shell 10 and draws all of the rings 13 tightly together andinto snug clamping engagement with the shell mouths. As the nut 17 istightened, the successive series of shell mouths and rings 13are jammedtightly together against the reactance piece afforded by the flange 15of the collar 14. There is thus formed, a substantialhv hermeticallysealed hollow walled chamber, the hermetic sealing being asmedium to theinner 'faces of the rings at their lines of contact with the shellmouths.

Fitting within the collar 14 is a hollow metal cover 18 provided with anintegral handle 19 and formed at its top with a laterally extendingflange 20 which rests upon the collar 14, when the cover is dropped intoposition. This cover flange preferably rests upon a sponge rubbersealing ring With this type of construction, the frozen confections orpieces of ice cream to be stored and vended, may be placed in thecontainer and a suitable amount of solid carbon dioxide or otherrefrigerating medium dropped into the container on top of the goods tobe chilled. The heavier than air gas evolved upon sublimation of therefrigerant will displace the air in the container and serve in wellknown fashion, to preserve as well as refrigerate the frozencomestibles. The cover 18 fits the collar 14 with reasonable snugnessbut does not act as a tight stopper which would create or hold anymaterial gas pressures within the container. At times when the cover isremoved to permit the withdrawal of one or more of the frozencomestibles, the air which enters the container will be quickly expelledupon further sublimation of the refrigerant.

{is an alternative to the use of a solid refrigerating medium, I maycirculate brine or other cooling fluid through the innermost chamberdefined by the concentric shells 10 and 10a. For this purpose, I haveshown a brine inlet pipe ,21, leading into the top of such chamber and athe article is inverted and the bottoms 11 sol- I dered, welded orotherwise bonded in place. Just before each shellbottom is applied, asmall piece of solid carbon dioxide may be deposited on the previouslysoldered shell bottom, and the CO2 gas evolving therefrom will serve tofill the various concentric compartments with an inert gas of recognizedheat insulating value. Other methods, of course, maybe used'for fillingthe chambers with gas and it is possible to make the can sides andbottoms in one piece and to solder or otherwise bond them to the topsections.

Where the -inlet and outlet pipes 21 and 22 for conveying brine to theinnerchamber are utilized, it will be apparent that these pipes serve anadditional function in bracing and properly dium rather than a coolingmedium may be circulated around the-chamber.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated ina greatly exagg'erated fashion the factthat both surfaces of the shells are highly polished and shiny, thepolished areas being designated at 23, and serving as eilicient. heatreflecting surfaces.

In Figs. 3 and 4, I have illustrated a device which is primarilyintended as a portable container to be carried by street hawkers orpeddlers for selling frozen confections. With this form of the inventionI provide an inner shell 25 and an outer shell 26 concentric with eachother and spaced apart to afford a double walled, open topped container.The tops of the cans 25 and 26 are connected by a circular plate 27soldered or otherwise applied to provide a substantially hermeticallysealed, hollow walled can. The mouth of the can is closed by a suitablecover indicated generally at C and which will be later described indetail.

The shells 25 and 26 like the shells of Fig. 1,

'are highly polished on both surfaces in order that they may eflicientlyreflect heat and in the space between the shells, I provide anysuitable,

- which will tend to reflect heat waves.

In order to safeguard this foil against tarnishing and losing itsefliciency, its outer surface is covered with cellophane 33 or isotherwise treated with some tarnish preventing medium. Inasmuch as thematerial possessesthe ordinary characteristics of a corrugated paperboard, it may be readily cut to any size desired.

In the present instance, I have shown a double thickness of this boardarranged in the space between the shells 26 and. 25. The two thicknessesof the composite insulating board are arranged in abutment and spacedfrom the inner and outer shells by the use of corner spacers 34 and 35encircling the lower corner of the shell 25 and lying within the lowercorner of the shell I The spacing is further maintained by the 26. useof spacer members 36 and 37 arranged between the upper edges of thecomposite insulating sheets 28 and the upper ends of the shells 25 and26. If desired, the spaces between the shells and the insulating sheets28 as well as the hollow central portions of the insulating sheetsreferred, comprises a pair of hollow metallic sec-' tions 38 and 39presenting flat abutment surfaces 40 and having their top edges hingedlyconnected as at 41 along the line of abutment. The two cover sections 38and 39 cooperatively define a square hollow cover and the sections areprovided with laterally extending flanges 42 to rest upon the upper edgeof the container and limit the extent of projection of the hollow coverinto the container. 1

Preferably the smaller cover section 38 carries on its under face, anopen ended trough 43 adapted to be filled with the solid refrigerantindicated 'at 44, this refrigerant being customarily wrapped in paper 45or otherwise encased in order to retard its rate of sublimation. I Theweight of the refrigerant aids in preventing the entire cover from beingbodily lifted off the container whengthe hinged closure section C islifted up by its handle 46 to expose the contents of the container. 1

The container may be readily charged by simply lifting up the coversection 39 but for purposes of cleaning or recharging with refrigerant,the entire cover is removed.

The trough 43 extends substantially from one side to the other of thecover section 38. When a suitable amount of solid carbon dioxide isintroduced into this trough through one end thereof and the coverreplaced on the container, the side walls of the cover automatically actto block sliding movement of the solid 00: out of the trough, regardlessof how the container may be tilted.

The use of the holder for the solid refrigerant is particularlyadvantageous in that it prevents the refrigerant in its solid form fromcoming into direct contact with the frozen comestibles and therebyprevents the ice cream or other material from becoming too hard.

It will be obvious that the number of sheets of heat insulating materialused with the form of invention shown in Fig. 3 or the number ofconcentric cans or shells used with the form of in-' vention shown inFig. 1, may be varied to suit the requirements of'the trade or theparticular temperature regulating problems involved.

It. will thus be seen that there is herein described apparatus in whichthe several features of thisinvention are embodied, and which apparatusin its action attains the various objects of the invention and is wellsuited to meet the requirements of practical use.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and manyapparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be madewithout departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingsshall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:-

I. In a portable container of the class described, a plurality ofconnected concentric spaced metallic shells defining a hollow-walledchamber having an opening'in its top, a closure for said opening, eachof said shells defining with its neighbor a space hermetically sealedfromthe' remainder of the hollow wall, means for introducing and drawingoff a heat regulating fluid from the innermost of said spaces only,including passage defining members for the fluid bracing the shells andspacing them apart, having their ends terminating respectively at theouter wall of the innermost spaceand the outer wall of the outermostspace.

2. An insulating container including a plurality of concentric metallicshells of progressively increasing cross sectional area and length, thetops 3. An insulating container including a plurality of concentricmetallic shells of progressively in-' creasing cross sectional area andlength, the .tops

.of all of said shells having openings therein of substantially similarsize, spacer rings encircling said openings and spacing the shellsapart, a flanged collar passed through all of said openings and ringmeans coacting with the collar to draw the spacer rings and shellsclosely together and hermetically seal the various compartments definedby the shells, and a cover fitting within the collar.

4. An insulating container including a plurality of concentric metallicshells of progressively increasing cross sectional area and length, thetops of all of said shells having openings therein of substantiallysimilar size, spacer rings encircling said openings and spacing theshells apart, a flanged collar passed through all of said openings andring means coacting with the collar to draw the spacer rings and shellsclosely together and hermetically seal the various compartments definedby the shells, and means for conducting a temperature regulating fluidto and from the innermost compartment cooperatively defined by theshells and spacers.

5. An insulating container including a plurality of concentric metallicshells of progressively increasing cross sectional area and length, thetops of all of said shells having openings therein of substantiallysimilar size, spacer rings encircling said openings and spacing theshells apart, a flanged collar passed through all or said openingsandring means coact ing with the collar to draw the spacer rings andshells closely together and hermetically seal the various compartmentsdefined by the shells, and a cover fitting within the collar, all ofsaid shells having heat reflecting surfaces to inhibit heat transferadjacent compartments.

6. An insulating container having all of the insulating walls thereofdefined by spaced concentrically arranged metallic shells, saidcontainer including a plurality of concentric cylindrical cans ofprogressively increasing diameter and length spaced apart so that aseries of annular chambers of progressively increasing height are formedaround the cylinder and a series of circular chambers of progressivelyincreasing diameter are formed below the bottom or the cylinder, theuppermost edges of said cans being of progressively increasing heightand each can including an annular lip extending inwardly at its top,said lip being of progressively increasingwidth to define a series ofaligned openings in the top of the container, means to close saidopenings.

7. An insulating container having all of the insulating walls thereofdefined by spaced concentrically arranged metallic shells, said con-'tainer including a plurality of concentric cylindrical cans ofprogressively increasing diameter and length spaced apart so that aseries of annular chambers of progressively increasing height are formedaround the cylinder and a series oi! circular chambers of progressivelyincreasing diameter are formed below the bottom of the cylinder, theuppermost edges of said cans being of progressively increasing heightand each can including an annular lip extending inwardly at its top,said lip being of progressively increasing width to define a series ofaligned openings in the top of the container, means to close saidopenings comprising a plurality of rings interposed between adjacentshells and encircling the openings and means for clamping all of therings together.

8. An insulating container having all of the insulating walls thereofdefined by spaced concentrically arranged metallic shells, saidcontainer including a plurality of concentric cylindrical cans ofprogressively increasing diameter and length spaced apart so that aseries of annular chambers of progressively increasing height are formedaround the cylinder and a series of circular chambers of progressivelyincreasing diameter are formed below the bottom of the cylinder, theuppermost edges of said cans being of progressively increasing heightand each can including an annular lip extending inwardly at its top,said lips being of progressively increasing width to define a series ofaligned openings in the top of the container, means to close saidopenings comprising a plurality of rings interposed between adjacentshells and encircling the openings and means for clamping all of therings together, said last mentioned means including a collar flange atone passing through the rings and threaded at its other end and a nutscrewed onto the threaded end of the collar.

9. An insulating container having all of the insulating walls thereofdefined by spaced concentrically arranged metallic shells, saidcontainer including a plurality of concentric cylindrical cans ofprogressively increasing diameter and length spaced apart so that aseries of annularchambers of progressively increasing height are formedaround the cylinder and a series oi circular chambers of progressivelyincreasing diameter are formed below the bottom of the cylinder, theuppermost edges of said cans being of progressively increasing heightand each can including an annular lip extending inwardly at its top,said lip being of progressively increasing width to define a series ofaligned openings in the top of the container, means to close saidopenings comprising a plurality of rings interposed between adjacentshells and encircling the openings and means for clamping all of therings together, said last mentioned means including a collar flange atone end passing through the rings and threaded at its other end and anut' screwed onto the threaded end 01' the collar and a closure memberfitting within the collar.

WALTER E. CARPENTER.

